Daita Castle

History

Daitajō was first built by Matsudaira Nobumitsu, the third patriarch of the Matsudaira Clan, in the 15th century, and served as a residence for his eigth son, Matsudaira Mitsuchika. However, the remains we see today date to a later renovation of the castle. This renovation is theorised to have been either undertaken during the wars which lead to the destruction of the Takeda Clan in 1582, starting with the battle of Nagashino in 1575, or in the lead up to the battle of Komaki-Nagakute in 1584. The former theory seems somewhat more probable to me.

Visit Notes

Daitajō, also known by several other names, including Matsudaira-Shiroyamajō - not to be confused with Matsudairajō - is a yamajiro (mountaintop castle) ruin in Ôuchi Township, Toyota Municipality. Ruins feature earthworks, such as kuruwa (baileys), dorui (earthen ramparts), and various trenches, as well as ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts) which can still be found in places. The segments of ishigaki are well hidden and searching for them is like an Easter egg hunt. The castle-mount further is distinguished by the presence of clusters of larger boulders along the western ridge. Some were likely used as gates or chokepoints by the castle garrison.

The layout of Daitajō forms a 'V'-shape on the mountaintop and along its ridges. The western ridge is made up of a series of baileys divided by wide, deep horikiri (trenches bisecting the ridge). The main bailey complex is interesting. It is surrounded by an obikuruwa (ring bailey terrace). The main bailey itself is partitioned by dorui and ditches into three parts.

The eastern ridge ruins contain some exciting features. Firstly the eastern ridge is separated by a large horikiri. This horikiri is spanned by a dobashi (earthen bridge). The dobashi is shored up with ishigaki. There are dorui and ditches beyond the dobashi forming an umadashi (barbican). These are intricate arrangements of berms and ditches are quite sophisticated for what I took to be an unassuming yamajiro!

The eastern bailey cluster has tatebori (climbing moats) protecting the mountainside. There is a complex arrangement of karabori (dry moats) or yokobori (lateral moats) around the ôtemon (main gate) area. The ôtemon features dobashi between trenches. One bailey is surrounded by an angled yokobori, almost like one might see at a flatland castle site.

The eastern ridge continues on further than I expected, all the way to where there is a forest road cresting the ridge. This is the end of the castle ruins and it is only when one has come this far will one turn back and see the longest segment of ishigaki at Daitajō. Many maps of the castle ruins don't show this part and it must be often missed. I'd recommend this site to intermediate yamajiro-explorers; it could be visited alongside nearby Ogyūjō.

Note: Daitajō is a good name for this site. It is also locally known as Shiroyamajō, but since there are many castles with the name, it meaning 'Castle Mountain', this site is also called Matsudaira-Shiroyamajō, Ogyū-Shiroyamajō, Toyota-Shiroyamajō, and so on. This site is not to be confused with Ogyūjō, Matsudairajō, Hosokawa-Shiroyamajō, Hadanashi-Shiroyamajō, or Asuke-Shiroyamajō, all in Aichi Prefecture / Mikawa Province.

Gallery

Ishigaki segment
Large horikiri (trench)
Ishigaki of dobashi
Horikiri (trench)
Ishigaki segment

Castle Profile
English Name	Daita Castle
Japanese Name	大田城
Alternate Names	松平城山城 (Matsudaira-Shiroyamajō)
Founder	Matsudaira Nobumitsu
Year Founded	15th century; 1570s-1580s
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Artifacts	Dobashi, Umadashi, Ishigaki, Horikiri, Dorui, &c.
Features	trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Hike from parking area in the north. Matsudaira Shiroyamajō Sono Manma Park is to the right; take the left path to the giant boulder and proceed along the ridge from there.
Visitor Information	24/7 free; mountain
Time Required	120 mins
Website	https://www.tourismtoyota.jp/spots/detail/1458/
Location	Toyota, Aichi Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 3' 37.91" N, 137° 14' 32.21" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2024
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
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